The word blog evolved from the term web-log, which represents the notion of online journals/diaries/discussions/records of dialogue. It can be quite useful to set up a blog on a module related course, to either encourage dialogue between students and/or staff, or for group work, particularly when face to face meetings might not be possible. A blog allows students to communicate with other people or to record a personal diary. Blogs facilitate comments from other people, which often helps the dialogue to progress. There are two different types of blogs you can create: Individual to All Students blogs allow students to have their own pages which show only their own Blog Entry posts. Other students can read and comment on those entries, but cannot post entries onto a student s page. Course blogs list the Blog Entry posts of all users on a single page. All users can read and comment on each others posts, as well as create their own Blog Entry posts. These blogs are similar to discussion boards. Detailed Instructions Create a Blog 1. From the Home tab, click on the link to your course in the Course List box. 2. Ensure Edit Mode is switched to ON (top right of screen). When edit mode is switched off you will only see the student view of the course. 3. From the course menu, click on the link to the content area where you would like to add the blog. NOTE: Students access the blog via a course menu content area. If you want to add a new content area to the course menu, eg Course Blog, see separate guide ( Add a Menu Item ). Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 1
4. From the Tools menu, select Blogs. NOTE: If you want to place the blog inside a folder, click on the folder name first. 5. Click the Create New Blog button. 6. Enter a blog Name and Instructions. 7. Select the Blog Availability option. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 2
8. Set the Blog Date and Time Restrictions, if required. 9. Select the required Blog Participation options, eg Course blog will allow all users to post and comment on all entries. Uncheck the Allow Anonymous Entries and Comments if required. 10. Select the required Blog Settings. NOTE: Selecting either of these options refers to the User s own Entries and Comments (and not those of other users). 11. Select the required Grade Settings. 12. Click on Submit. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 3
13. You will see confirmation that the blog has been created. Create and Use Blogs 14. You now have the option to create a link from the content area to the newly created Blog, or to any other existing Blog. Alternatively you can create a link to the main Blogs Page (where all Blogs are stored). If linking to a specific Blog, make sure the blog you require is the one highlighted in the Link to a Blog area, and then click on Next. NOTE: Clicking on Create New Blog at this stage will bypass creating a link to the highlighted Blog. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 4
15. If required, you can add some Text to direct users to the link. 16. Set the Options for the link as required. 17. Click Submit. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 5
18. You will see confirmation that a link to the Blog has been added to the content area page. Create, Edit and Comment on Blog Entries 1. From the course menu (users will) select the content area where the link to the Blog (or Blogs Page) has been placed. 2. Click the Blog title. 3. Read the Instructions, then click Create Blog Entry. NOTE: Clicking on Instructions will collapse/expand the instructions box. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 6
4. Enter a Title and Entry Message. 5. Click Browse My Computer to attach a file, if required. 6. Click Save Entry as Draft to edit the entry later (before posting). Or click Post Entry to post the entry now, and go to Step 10. 7. You will see confirmation that your Blog Entry has been created and listed on the View Drafts page. 8. To edit the draft entry, click on the title to open it, make the amendements, then click Post Entry. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 7
9. You will see confirmation that the draft entry has been Edited, and also posted. 10. Other users can contribute to the Blog Entry by clicking on the Comment box (shown in Step 9), adding their comments, and then clicking on the Add button to submit them. 11. NOTE: Users can remove any of their own Comments, as long as the option Allow Users to Delete Comments was selected in Step 10 above (Create a Blog). Users cannot remove Comments added by others. Users can remove any of their own comments, by clicking on the cross icon. This action is final. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 8
12. NOTE: If the option to Allow Users to Edit and Delete Entries has been set, the user can click the Modify button and select the required action. Create and Use Blogs Individual Blog 1. Follow the same steps as in Create a Course Blog, but instead the tutor selects Individual to All Students in the Blog Participation section. 2. Users access their Individual Blog in the same way as they do for a Course Blog (via content area link). 3. Users can Comment on another user s Individual Blog by selecting a name from the More Blogs list to the right of the Blog page. Copyright 2011 Northumbria University. Page 9